I Have An Addiction!

I’ll admit it. I have an addiction. An addiction to one large unsweet iced tea every day.

I know I can make it myself. My husband reminds me quite often – like daily. But it doesn’t taste as good as Sonic, Chick-Fil-A or even McDonalds. The tea may taste the same as what I can make at home but the ice is better at the drive-through. To be honest, I usually go to McDonalds because it’s only $1 all the time. Probably because their cups are the worst.

Sorry, I’m getting off topic.

When I say it is an addiction, I mean it. I know the gal at the drive-through window by name and have contributed to her Christmas shopping budget the past few years. She calls my “Hey, Lady!” and I call her Sherri because… that’s her name. I know she is a single mom with two kids who seems to work everyday.

My tea addiction suffered during Covid. We stopped going to restaurants and even quit doing take-out for a while. One day I decided to live dangerously and I drove through McDonalds to get a fix.

I thought I recognized the familiar voice when I ordered my unsweet tea at the menu/speaker thing.  Sure enough, when I pulled up to the first window to pay for my $1.08 tea bill, there was Sherri.

“Hey, Lady! Where have you been?”

“Hey, Sherri! We haven’t been going out much because of Covid. How are you doing? How has it been here?” I spoke to her through a plexi-glass barrier with a small square cut out for me to pass money through.

“It’s been rough. People have been so mean!”

“Really? I’m so sorry” was all I could think to say.

“Yeah. People have been so rude but it’s great to see you. Have a great day, Lady!”

“You too! Hang in there.” And I drove to the second window to retrieve my fix of unsweet tea.

As I drove away, I was sad  – and perplexed. I know Covid wreaked havoc on our lives. People found themselves working from home for the first time. Others were putting their lives in danger to do their regular jobs. Parents were homeschooling – and trying to manage zoom calls for school and their own jobs. High school and college seniors were grieving the loss of their graduations and year-end celebrations. The elderly in care facilities were locked down and away from family for months and months.

It is tough, but why would people be mean to the gal working her shift at McDonalds?

Covid has turned many people’s lives upside down – mine included. I saw a lot of sweet, caring acts of kindness in the beginning when the country seemed to adopt a “we’re in this together” attitude. As the days of lockdown and locked away have turned into months – and months – the kindness factor has gone down. The virus is wearing our common sense and common decency down. And the election situation didn’t help.

People are mad they have to wear a mask. People are mad at those who don’t want to wear a mask. People are mad they have to stay home and mad at those who go out. Ugh!

A mantra I adopted years ago is “anger is not the appropriate response.” I think we all need the mug or t-shirt with that printed on it. And another one that says – “Be Kind.”

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be

quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. James 1:19

~~~~~

Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect

by overlooking wrongs. Proverbs 19:11

 

Let’s all go out into our worlds (even if you have to do it through text, email or zoom) and spread happiness and lavish grace on others.

And be nice to the “Sherri’s.” Please.

Tell me the best act of care or kindness you have seen during Covid.